Labour’s fixation with control is strangling everyone

There was something both sad and ironic about the prime minister's attempt to sell Labour as the party of optimism in his new year message last week. Not just because he is the embodiment of dourness, and not just because there isn't a lot to be optimistic about. But because it's Labour's fundamental lack of optimism about human beings and what they are capable of which has so undermined its political project over the past dozen years.

Labour's controlling, centralising, mistrustful approach has left huge numbers of former supporters feeling sullen, impotent and resentful. And it's that history which is going to make it so hard for the party to win back voters in the election campaign.

I meet the disillusioned everywhere. A devoted consultant…

Want to read more?

Subscribe now and get unlimited digital access on web and our smartphone and tablet apps, free for your first month.